Publications | Umweltbundesamt

Waste | Resources

Roadmap for Healthy Buildings – 1st step: Harmonisation of Health Criteria for Construction Products

Discussion Report

A harmonised documentation of emission test results of construction products is needed for the declarations of performance under the EU Construction Products Regulation. In the discussions regarding the level of information details to be provided it has been difficult to find consensus due to the conflicting interests of the various parties concerned. In the view of the German authorities a high l...read more

Sustainability | Strategies | International matters

Transformation research

Exploring methods for an emerging research field

The last years, calls surged for a transformation research, which addresses the increasing global envi-ronmental and social challenges and supports transformations towards sustainability. As transfor-mation research developed rapidly in relation to various societal domains and established research strands, there is currently a need for self-reflection with regard to empirical and theoretical conce...read more

Chemicals

Scientific Stakeholder Meeting on Nanomaterials in the Environment

This report summarizes the contents and outcomes of the Scientific Stakeholder Meeting on Nanomaterials in the Environment which took place on the 10th and 11th October 2017 at the headquarters of the German Environment Agency (UBA) in Dessau-Rosslau, Germany. The meeting focused on regulatory relevant results of German and European research projects on nanomaterials in the environment which are c...read more

Waste | Resources

Quality assurance of compost and digestate

Experiences from Germany

Establishing a quality assurance system for compost and digestate from bio-waste can help to decrease the amount of biodegradable waste being landfilled and to increase material recycling. Germany has been successfully operating such a system since 1989, comprising also an organisation with the competence to control the quality of compost and digestate and to award a quality label, the Bundesgüteg...read more

Chemicals

Are biocide emissions into the environment already at alarming levels?

Recommendations of the German Environment Agency (UBA) for an approach to study the impact of biocides on the environment

More than 43,000 biocidal products were registered on the German market alone at the beginning of 2017, including disinfectants, preservatives, pest control and anti-fouling products. All biocides act as intended on living organisms and can enter the environment. Although some biocides have already been found in relevant environmental concentrations, they are still insufficiently considered in mon...read more

Sustainability | Strategies | International matters

Shaping environmental policy in a citizen- friendly manner

How behavioural science findings can make environmental-policy instruments more effective How behavioural science findings can make environmental-policy instruments more effective

Which factors are relevant for environmental decisions? How can people be motivated to act in an environmentally responsible manner and how can environmentally harmful routines be broken down? This publication provides answers to these questions and uses the latest findings from psychology, cognitive science and behavioral economics. An essential part of the publication is a checklist for the deve...read more

Chemicals

Bundling of Expertise in the area of Sustainable Chemistry: Conceptualization and Establishment of an International Sustainable Chemistry Collaborative Centre

With this project the International Sustainable Chemistry Collaborative Centre (ISC3) and the corre-sponding International Sustainable Chemistry Network (ISCnet) for experts and stakeholders were established at a conference in May 2017. Objectives, tasks and a concept of the centre were developed in cooperation with international experts. From a thematic perspective, the holistic concept of Sustai...read more

Chemicals

Clarification of methodical questions regarding the investigation of nanomaterials in the environment

Development of a decision support tool for the investigation of nanomaterial’s environmental behaviour based on dispersion behaviour and dissolution in relation to various environmental parameters

For an adequate and valid interpretation of data regarding the environmental fate and behavior of nanomaterials it is essential to describe parameters like dissolution (rate), dispersibility and dispersion stability. Aim of the project was the development of a standardized test method to determine dispersibility and dispersion stability of nanomaterials in simulated environmental media as new OECD...read more